Author: Jeannette E. Garcia (San Antonio Business Journal)
Four local organizations are providing free training and placement programs for IT/computer support, business operations management and human resources administration jobs. The program is a collaboration between Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT), Port San Antonio and workforce training company Dynamic Advancement.
"As people in our community faced sudden unemployment and hardship, it took strategic thinking and great partners to launch this new program," Adrian Lopez, CEO of WSA said during an event celebrating the first class of 50 students graduating the program.
The students began training at SAMSAT at Port San Antonio or virtually on Oct. 5.
The funds being used to run this program are administered through the city of San Antonio’s Recovery and Resiliency Program and Bexar County’s Bexar County Strong Program. The city and county have invested roughly $75 million and $35 million, respectively, from the federal coronavirus relief bill toward workforce development programs.
The workforce development program is a "bridge to a future that is right in front of us," Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia said. "The opportunities are real and they are here right now."
The effort seeks to support the need to help area workforce development partners as they deliver skills training and job placement services to people throughout the community, particularly those previously employed in the hospitality, energy and other sectors hard-hit by the pandemic.
The program can support up to 400 students with about 130 students undertaking socially-distanced in-person classes at the David Monroe SAMSAT Education Center, a 9,000 square feet facility, a repurposed Air Force basketball gymnasium, and the remainder of students participating in the same courses virtually as they are streamed live. The partners are currently working to fill new cohorts beginning later in October and November.
Accenture Federal Services, Deacon Recruiting, Tri-Starr Group, CPS Energy, K-Force Recruiting, Spectrum Communications, San Antonio Human Resource Association, Lockheed-Martin, IPSecure Inc., and The Boeing Co. have all committed to the program.